About Me

I was a reporter and columnist for 40 years for a chain of newspapers in the suburbs of Chicago. I'm a military veteran having served in the United States Army Combat Engineers (Cpl. E-4) and a Korean War veteran with an Honorable Discharge from the Armed Forces of the United States of America

Guardian Films - Sean Smith's brutal, uncompromising film from the Helmand frontline shows the horrific chaos of a stalemate that is taking its toll in blood.

The images make your hair stand on end. It's intense, and the soldiers' fear is palpable. A Helicopter-borne team descend through a fire fight. A bullet has torn through a soldier's face and punctured his lung. "He was able to turn and have the meat, kind of away from his airway, so he was able to breathe." Back at base the Helicopter is cleaned of blood, ready for it's next hair raising mission. "We don't know if it's your position or not but there is a possible imminent attack", a soldier shouts in panic back into his radio, but before he has an answer bullets start coming from all directions. "Ah Fuck, Oh shit fuck. Which way are we going?" Amid the confusion a Marine is shot in the back. But it's not the bullets that kill these men. It's the IEDs. In the space of two weeks, 3 men from this company have died from the deadly devices. In recent weeks they've multiplied by 80%. So much so, that the entire region of Helmand is now considered a low-density minefield.

Wednesday, December 28, 2011

Republican candidates for POTUS have blasted President Obama for pulling troops out of IRAQ, but now they are blasting President Obama for not organizing "Welcome Home" parades. Watch video to see what IRAQ war veterans have to say about the disagreement

The situation in IRAQ is deteriorating at a rapid pace and more violence is expected in the coming weeks.There is no immediate call for US troops to return to IRAQ, but if conditions continue to meltdown you would see US troops going back into IRAQ.

Members from the 101st Combat Aviation Brigade save a Soldiers life during a MEDEVAC mission by providing treatment from a combat zone to a base treatment center for the wounded in Afghanistan. Produced by Sgt. Robert Liddy.

Each day 18 American soldiers commits suicide.In the last few years, more US military personnels have taken their own lives... than it being killed in Iraq or Afghanistan.Forty percent of the homeless in the United States are military veterans.

Wednesday, December 14, 2011

This is a soldier footage and his story that he is telling us all..Just a quick clip of some harassing fire we received before the larger firefight later that day......You can hear they wait for us to leave the bunker before they open up on me and my guys.. Sorry I cannot show you the fight from later in the day that one it is too explicit

Kabul, Afghanistan • The U.S. ambassador to Afghanistan on Saturday raised the possibility that U.S. combat troops could stay in the country beyond the 2014 deadline that the White House had set for their withdrawal.

The ambassador, Ryan C. Crocker, speaking at a roundtable event with a small group of journalists, said that if the Afghan government wanted U.S. troops to stay longer, the withdrawal could be slowed. "They would have to ask for it," he said. "I could certainly see us saying, ‘Yeah, makes sense.’"

Saturday, December 10, 2011

Women in the military have a history that extends over 4,000 years into the past, throughout a vast number of cultures and nations. Women have played many roles in the military, from ancient warrior women, to the women currently serving in conflicts. See Also: Women in the military by country.Despite various roles in the armies of past societies, the role of women in the military, particularly in combat, is controversial and it is only recently that women have begun to be given a more prominent role in contemporary armed forces. As increasing numbers of countries begin to expand the role of women in their militaries, the debate continues.From the beginning of the 1970s, most Western armies began to admit women.[1] Only some of them permit women to fill active combat roles, including New Zealand, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Norway, Israel, Serbia, Sweden and Switzerland. Other nations allow female soldiers to serve in certain Combat Arms positions, such as the United Kingdom and the United States, which allows women to serve in Artillery roles, while still excluding them from units with a dedicated Infantry role. The United States allows women in most combat flying positions. Turkey uses female officers in combat flying (bombardment) missions over Northern Iraq and in ISAF patrol missions in Kabul, Afghanistan.Sgt Leigh Ann Hester, among other decorated soldiers in the Raven 42 unit, received the Silver Star, the third highest US combat decoration. While nurses under fire had received this award previously, Hester was the first woman to receive it for direct participation in combat.[2]Physical concernsThe female skeletal system is less dense, and more prone to breakages.[3][4] There was also concern that, in aviation, the female body is not as adept at handling the increased g-forces experienced by combat pilots; in fact, there is now evidence that the male body is less able to handle the g-forces than the female body: women are less likely to black out due to shorter blood vessel routes in the neck. Furthermore, health issues regarding women are argued as the reason that some submarine services avoid accepting women, although mixed-gender accommodations in a small space is also an issue, as is explained in more depth below.[5] The traditionalist Center for Military Readiness stated that "Female soldiers [are], on average, shorter and smaller than men, with 45-50% less upper body strength and 25-30% less aerobic capacity, which is essential for endurance".However, an article in the Army Times July 29, 1996, states that some women do possess the physical attributes suitable to become combat soldiers.

Because of the lack of interest in the war in Afghanistan, we have decided to quit posting about the war on Facebook and Twitter. From now on the only place anyone will find the latest on the war is on my blog.

Special Forces working with Afghan Army. The first guy through the door is AA. His weapon is hit and he turns and runs out the door (look for sparks when rounds hit his weapon). He is killed when he runs outside (this happens off camera). Insurgents inside the house shoot the AA soldier through holes in the front of the building. The Special Forces soldier neutralizes the threat. Training makes all the difference.

A major international conference on Afghanistan's future is due to open in the German city of Bonn on Monday.It comes 10 years after a similar gathering held in the city, weeks after the Taliban fell from power.Quentin Somerville reports on what the situation is like in Afghanistan from Margah, on the Afghan-Pakistan border.Divide Pakistan & Reunite Pashtuns=Afghans to eliminate punjabi ISI sponsored terrorism!!

Sunday, December 4, 2011

Drone shot down over Iran 'lost over Afghanistan last week'A US reconnaissance drone aircraft shot down over Iran could have been an unmanned craft flying over western Afghanistan that was lost last week after going out of control, Nato has said. Iran's military claimed on it had shot down the craft in eastern Iran and warned it would retaliate on foreign soil for the incursion."Iran's military has downed an intruding RQ-170 American drone in eastern Iran," Iran's Arabic-language Al Alam state television network quoted the unnamed source as saying."The spy drone, which has been downed with little damage, was seized by the Iranian armed forces."Nato's International Security Assistance Force said on Sunday: "The UAV to which the Iranians are referring may be a US unarmed reconnaissance aircraft that had been flying a mission over western Afghanistan late last week. The operators of the UAV lost control of the aircraft and had been working to determine its status."A U.S. official said that Washington had no indication that a drone that had crashed had actually been shot down.

Iran's Fars news agency reported that the drone had been brought down through a combined effort by Iran's armed forces, air defence forces and its electronic warfare unit after the plane briefly violated the country's airspace on its eastern border.The RQ-170 Sentinal UAV is a stealth aircraft designed for intelligence gathering. It was first sighted in Afghanistan in 2007 and nicknamed 'The Beast of Kandahar'.Iran shot down the drone at a time when it is trying to contain foreign reaction to the storming of the British embassy in Tehran on Tuesday, shortly after London announced that it would impose sanctions on Iran's central bank in connection with Iran's controversial nuclear enrichment programme.Britain evacuated its diplomatic staff from Iran and expelled Iranian diplomats in London in retaliation, and several other EU members recalled their ambassadors from Tehran.The attack dragged Iran's relations with Europe to a long-time low. Washington and EU countries have been discussing measures to restrict Iran's oil exports since the United Nations nuclear watchdog issued a report in November with what it said was evidence that Tehran had worked on designing an atom bomb.Iran says its nuclear programme is entirely peaceful. Iran had already warned the West that any move to block its oil exports would more than double crude prices with devastating consequences on a fragile global economy.

"As soon as such an issue is raised seriously the oil price would soar to above $250 a barrel," Foreign Ministry spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast said in a newspaper interview.The comments come as Iran strives to contain international reaction to the storming of the British embassy last week, a move which drew immediate condemnation from around the world and may galvanise support for tougher action against Tehran.The US Senate voted on Thursday to penalise foreign financial institutions that do business with Iran's central bank - which takes payment for the 2.6 million barrels Iran exports a day. The European Union is considering a ban - already in place in the United States - on Iranian oil imports.Until recently, Iran had dismissed as ineffective mounting sanctions aimed at forcing it to halt its nuclear activities. Mehmanparast's comments admitted that the penalties had caused damage."No one welcomes the sanctions, we know that sanctions create obstacles, but we want to say we will overcome these obstacles," Mehmanparast told Sharq daily. "Imposing sanctions on oil and gas is among the sanctions that, if one wants to do that, the consequences should be fully considered before taking any action."I do not think the situation in the world and especially in the West today is prepared enough to raise such discussions."

News 8's Janelle Stelson travels to Andrews Air Force Base to meet wounded troops coming home from iraq and afghanistan. Colonel John Maietta of Cumberland County showed us how injured troops are transported back the U.S. for medical care.

Friday, December 2, 2011

On this episode, Marines launch an assault against the Taliban during Operation Eastern Storm, Lt. Gen. Caldwell looks back at the transformation of the Afghan security forces, with Gadhafi overthrown the people of Libya begin a new life, the Army Corps of Engineers helps the people of Minot, N.D., pick up the pieces, and service members begin the process of leaving Iraq after eight year

Monday, November 28, 2011

This is a video showing a typical female barracks in the US military. As far as I can tell the only thing that looks different than when I was in the Army is the matresses are thicker. Ours were about two inches thick and you could roll them up when not in use.

Sunday, November 27, 2011

For four years, thousands of British servicemen fought with the Taliban for the district of Sangin - the most violent part of Afghanistan. When they withdrew in 2010, control was handed over to American Marines. The Americans decided to abandon a lot of this hard-won land and now have to fight for it all over again.This film shows Lima Company of the US 3rd Battalion 5th Marines clearing a path to reclaim territory the British previously occupied. Part 2 of 2.

For four years, thousands of British servicemen fought with the Taliban for the district of Sangin - the most violent part of Afghanistan. When they withdrew in 2010, control was handed over to American Marines. The Americans decided to abandon a lot of this hard-won land and now have to fight for it all over again.This film shows Lima Company of the US 3rd Battalion 5th Marines clearing a path to reclaim territory the British previously occupied. Part 1 of 2.

Saturday, November 26, 2011

Camp Eggers Black Friday Bazaar. Scenes include various footage of service members and civilians browsing and shopping the Bazaar. Produced by Petty Officer 2nd Class Casey Amdahl. 11.25.2011. Also available in High Definition

The M777 howitzer is a towed artillery piece manufactured by BAE Systems' Global Combat Systems division. Prime contract management is based in Barrow-in-Furness in the UK as well as manufacture and assembly of the titanium structures and associated recoil components. Final integration and testing of the weapon is undertaken at BAE's facility in Hattiesburg, Mississippi.It is in the process of replacing the M198 howitzer 155 mm towed howitzers in the United States Marine Corps and United States Army. The M777 is also being used by the Canadian Forces, and has been used in action in March 2008 in Afghanistan along with the associated GPS-guided Excalibur ammunition.

Service members have a final Thanksgiving meal in Iraq while the 25th Infantry Division Band play some holiday music. There is sound bite from Sgt. Christina Kolodziej. Produced by Spc. David Marquis. Provided by 362nd MPAD.

Wednesday, November 23, 2011

The best way to win a war is to be the good guys! Americans have always been the guys in the White Cowboy Hat that rode into town to protect the innocent and stare evil down in the street at high noon. It sometimes seems like we may have forgotten that the best way to win is to be kind, friendly, humble, courageous, unwavering, polite, strong and optimistic.... you know.... American!

Please remember, war ain't about body counts, drones, daisy cutter bombs or surges... it should be about be the good guy on the side of truth and justice and if it's not... well then we shouldn't be there!This is a great song by former Army Ranger and Musician Jerod (JT) Thompson. Jerod takes to the road with his guitar strapped and roams the highways playing at clubs, barns, open fields and bonfires from California to Florida and everywhere in between. More more information on his music and when and where he will play next check him out at http://www.reverbnation.com/jtthompson or visit his facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/JT-Thompson/174106652640586

Friday, November 18, 2011

AFGHANISTAN FUTURE: I totally agree with the following. I remember when I was in the Army they told us for every ONE combat soldier there were at least nine other non-combat soldiers in support of the front line troops. I doubt if it has changed any in 50 years

Afghanistan: Mohammad Hanif Atmar, a former minister in the government of Karzai said Thursday that Afghanistan will likely plunge into civil and regional war if the United States does not leave a residual force of 20,000 to 30,000 troops in the country after 2014, along with significant economic aid — the state will disintegrate' and Afghan security forces will break into factions, said.This assertion is not true. A residual U.S. force would be primarily a target that would be too weak to prevent a return to civil war. As for the prediction of civil war — or more accurately tribal war — there is no power on earth than can stop it, whether the U.S. keeps soldiers in Afghanistan or not. It has never stopped. Nothing has been settled since 2001, including the terms for the distribution of wealth among the tribes; the role of Islam in government; ethnic relations between North and South; the ultimate form of the state; and finally, security.

Thursday, November 17, 2011

KUNAR PROVINCE, Afghanistan) - The War in Iraq may dominate the headlines but as Tim King tells us in this next report, soldiers at remote outposts in Afghanistan are seeing plenty of action. Soldiers there say Taliban forces are afforded plenty of vantage points near the Pakistan border. Soldiers at an American combat base in the Kunar Providence of Afghanistan called Camp Joyce run a tight ship.

Tuesday, November 15, 2011

Video of Soldiers engaged in an operation against insurgents. Scenes include weapons firing, Soldiers conducting a cordon and search, insurgents being detained and night vision combat footage.If you like this video take a look at some of the over 2000+ other videos with 12 million views on this channel! http://www.youtube.com/user/3rdID8487. You can also follow us Facebook now! Search the name "Military Videos" we are adding photos from the Frontlines also!! Also on Twitter at "3rdID8487"!!

Thursday, November 10, 2011

Veterans Day is a day we honor our comrades for their service, and a day set-aside for those who have not served to honor us. But as honored as I am to have worn the uniform of my country in combat, that's not what's on my mind today. Next week, the US postal service will stop delivering mail to Iraq. Many civilians may not get this but for those of us who served, it's an all too real acknowledgement that the war is ending. For real this time. Sometime in 2014, we'll go through the same drill in Afghanistan. The most recent vintage of American combat Veterans, those that will return home from their first deployment this December, were elementary schoolers on September 11th. We've created an entire generation of Veterans who know little to nothing of a world in which America is not at persistent, endless war. I'm proud to have gone to war for my country. And I think that while we have little gain at this point by remaining in Afghanistan, our presence there was originally justified. And I also know a few other things. War is shit. War is god awful. War is the most terrible thing imaginable for everyone directly or peripherally involved. From the combatants on either side, to their families, to the innocents who are harmed (or even those that aren't harmed at all but live every day of their lives in fear of mortal harm). Sometimes, war is necessary. But we owe it to those who will be impacted by it, especially those whole will become Veterans of it, to make damn sure it's worth the cost. Now isn't the time for me to make grand arguments or provide geopolitical analysis of which wars are or have been worth it and which wars haven't. Lord knows, I spend plenty of time doing that already. No, this Veterans day I'm merely hoping that as conflicts arise in the future, we consider the Veterans we will be making, the young men and women who we will teach to know nothing of a nation not at terrible, god awful war, and hoping that if we do that we know without uncertainty that its going to be worth it.

Bill Corcoran, Fmr. Cpl (E-4), United States Army Combat Engineers, founder and editor of "CORKSPHERE."

Members from the 101st Combat Aviation Brigade save a Soldiers life during a MEDEVAC mission by providing treatment from a combat zone to a base treatment center for the wounded in Afghanistan. Produced by Sgt. Robert Liddy

Wednesday, November 9, 2011

Video of Marines of Kilo Company, 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines have been operating in the upper Sangin valley for three months. When they arrived, Marines say they couldn't move beyond several hundred feet from their post before being engaged by Taliban fighters. Over their time here, they have expanded that security zone, but they still meet the Taliban almost daily in fire fights. In this video, Marines are seen patrolling, scouting, searching for IEDs, shooting at Taliban fighters and searching compounds. 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines is based out of Camp Pendleton, Calif. Produced by Sgt. Dean Davis.